Flying Fast (time that is...)

I feel like every time I write I comment about how fast time is flying...and how easy it is for me to forget to do my goal of a blog every week. I think its been more like three weeks since I´ve written last. In those weeks a life has started to have some sort of a routine....if thats possible in Honduras. Every week day I have classes in the morning, do lesson planning and any other random things in the afternoons, and in the evening I´m in the library supervising the high school kids who would much rather play solitaire that research about microscopes for science class. While I am telling this one or that one that if they don´t stop playing games they will have to leave, I myself would prefer to play solitaire than make sure they are doing what they are supposed to do, but that´s okay.
This routine that I have just settled in to will soon be interrupted with the arrival of a large group of New Jersians whom I will be sharing the house with, then the day they leave another group will be arriving and staying for 1-2 weeks. Needless to stay life stays busy and interesting.

A New Computer Lab

Thanks to HSBC, a bank, we (not meaning me) are in the process of remodeling the preschool room into a computer lab. This new project has been started a few weeks ago, and is keeping the older guys here very busy. Presently the computers are in the library, but will move over to the computer room when it is finish. Here are a few pictures of the guys at work. It will look very similar to the library when it is completed.

Dia del Amor y Amistad

The following pictures are from last Saturday, el dia del amor y amistad (Valentines Day). I hosted a formal party for the young adults of the Finca. It was a perfect excuse for a party, and good time to remember God’s love for us and how to share it with others.

¨Miss Andrea¨…or ¨Teacher¨

I have finished my first week of teaching English…and what an experience it has been. Imagine trying to bring order to a classroom of rowdy children who are coloring, throwing arrows, trying to fit in the shelf under their chair, walking out of the room, or doing homework for other classes. I find one of my biggest struggles in the classroom is establishing my authority and getting the kids to listen and obey me so we can learn something. Please pray for me as I try to form some kind of order in my classes.
Wednesday here in Honduras will be seeing a group of nine from my church arriving via the exciting landing into Teguc. This group will be staying at the Finca for a week to hang out with the kids, work, and be an encouragement to the staff and volunteers here.
I would write more, but I´m struggling to find the words I want, so, til another time…peace.

Friday night thing

Here are two pictures from Friday night. We celebrated one of the girl's birthday with cake and fresco (soda).

Cappuccino and ruminations with Andrea

As the rain beats upon my tin roof and I sit here trying to get warm as I sip my cappuccino (compliments of a package from my family) I have two choices to make: be very productive and plan English lessons, or be “unproductive” and find some of the older girls to come over and watch a movie. Hm...this is a struggle that I face. I have a job I have to do, and lessons that I need to plan, and I want to plan them well. I also want to spend time with the kids, and have fun with them and show them that I have time for them and care about them. Two weeks ago I barely spent time with the kids, as I was so busy getting the library all ready for the start of school. This week I thought would be busy with teacher in service, but have found that I don't have much I need to do for that, so I've had more time to do stuff with the kids, like opening up the trampoline, or going to the other finca to play soccer.
Lately I've been doing a book study on the fruits of the Spirit, and I've been studying about agape-one of the forms of love. The author was saying how agape is actions- it needs to be demonstrated, and is not just feelings. I can feel love for these kids, but I need to act it out, I need to show them that I love them. If that means letting two of the little girls in my house to help them memorize the books of the new testament instead of doing what I was planning to do, that's okay because they are why God has brought me here.
So, you may ask, Andrea, what have you decided to do? I believe I'm going to take the next interrupted hour before the prayer meeting to try to plan lessons, and then have some girls over this evening to watch a movie. (And that movie will be in Spanish....I haven't quite mastered watching movies in Spanish yet with full comprehension so they may have to put up with English subtitles).
**note, this blog is being posted a few hours...or many hours …..or a few days...after it was written-so you aren't confused with the time posted and the time set in my writing)
***An added note...many hours later.....yeah, still didn't get any lesson planning done in that hour, but good news is that I understood the movie just fine with Spanish subtitles, instead of English. Praise God I'm learning this language!

I Have a new Visa

Here are two pictures that I took in Costa Rica. The beach isn't exactly the white sand sparkling blue water that you might imagine Costa Rica coasts are made of. I imagine that those of you who are bundled up and see snow outside your window may find the picture to be more glorious than I found it to be. It was nice to go to the beach, but its also nice to be back in Honduras. Thanks for the prayers, our trip went well and God kept us safe. I'm now allowed to be in Honduras for another 3 months And now to the next phase...teaching....